Wofford to hold 160th commencement on May 18

Honorary degrees, special awards also to be presented

2014-05-09

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford College will conduct its 160th Commencement Exercises at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 18, on the lawn of Main Building. During the ceremony, some 360 graduates will receive their diplomas, and Wofford will confer three honorary degrees.

Dr. Charles Edward (Ed) Coffey, vice president and CEO of Behavioral Health Sciences at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Mich., will receive the honorary doctorate of science degree; the Rev. Susan Thurston Henry-Crowe, the general secretary of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society, will receive the honorary doctorate of divinity degree; and Dr. George D. Kuh, theChancellor’s Professor of Higher Education Emeritus at Indiana University-Bloomington and adjunct professor of higher education policy at the University of Illinois, will receive the honorary doctorate of humanities degree.

The college also will present the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards to two students and two non-students. The Roger Milliken Award for Excellence in the teaching of Science and the Philip Covington Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Humanities and Social Sciences also will be presented to faculty members.

Commencement activities will take place throughout the weekend, including a Baccalaureate Service at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 17, also on the Lawn of Main Building.

(The rain location for both the Baccalaureate Service and Commencement will be Benjamin Johnson Arena)

Here is a schedule of Commencement events:

Friday, May 16ROTC Commissioning Ceremony2 p.m., Leonard Auditorium, Main BuildingSpeaker: Maj. Gen. Stephen TwittyMaj. Gen. Stephen Twitty is a distinguished military graduate from South Carolina State University, class of 1985. He holds a master of science in public administration from Central Michigan University and master of science in national security strategy from the National Defense University. His duty assignments include rifle platoon leader, scout platoon leader and battalion S-3 air officer from August 1985 to May 1989 with 1st battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) division at Fort Campbell, Ky. From October 1989 to May 1993, he served as the S-3 Air officer for 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment during Operation Desert Storm; aide-de-camp to the commanding general; and, commander of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. From March 2012 to May 2013, Twitty served as the deputy chief of staff communication, International Security Assistance Force, United States Forces – Afghanistan. He has served as the deputy chief of staff, FORSCOM G357 since July 2013. His awards and decorations include the Silver Star Medal, defense Superior Service medal, Legion of Merit (3 OLC), the Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC), the Meritorious service Medal (5 OLC), the Joint Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC); the Combat Infantry badge with Star, the Expert Infantry badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutists Badge, Air Assault badge, the Joint chiefs of Staff and Army Staff Identification Badges. Twitty is a native of Chesnee, S.C. He is married and has two daughters.

Saturday, May 17Baccalaureate Service5 p.m. Lawn of Main BuildingThis special service will be followed by a reception on the lawn.

Sunday, May 18Commencement Exercises9:30 a.m., Lawn of Main BuildingDuring the ceremony, some 360 graduates will receive their diplomas, and Wofford will confer three honorary degrees.

Immediately following the Commencement ExercisesLemonade on the LawnFront lawn of the Roger Milliken Science Center and Burwell Building